Michelle Obama endorses Hillary Clinton at Democratic convention

Updated: Tuesday, July 26, 2016, 9:55 [IST]

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Philadelphia, July 26: US First Lady Michelle Obama on Monday (July 25) addressed the opening night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) with a message of hope and unity for the party while endorsing presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton, saying she "trusts Hillary to lead the country".

"I want someone with proven strength ... someone who understands that the issues a president faces are not black and white and cannot be boiled down to 140 characters," ABC News quoted the First Lady as saying.

Clinton, "has the guts and the grace to keep coming back and putting those cracks in that highest and hardest glass ceiling," Michelle added.

The First Lady said she "trusts and believes" the former Secretary of State was truly qualified to shape "America's children for the next four or eight years", Politico reported.

"It's not about Republican vs Democrat"

November's election isn't Republican versus Democrat, Michelle said.

"It is about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives," Politico quoted her as saying.

"I am with you tonight because in this election, there is only one person who I trust with that responsibility, only one person who I believe is truly qualified to be president of the US, and that is our friend, Hillary Clinton."

She went on to praise Clinton's resiliency after the bitter primary in 2008, one that had similar levels of heat as this year's battle between the former First Lady and Democratic rival Bernie Sanders.

Hillary did not lose hope after failing in 2008, says Michelle

"When she did not win the nomination eight years ago, she did not get angry or disillusioned," politico reported citing Michelle as saying.

"Hillary did not pack up and go home because as a true public servant, Hillary knows that this is so much bigger than her own disappointment."

Michelle, who took to the stage to Clinton's campaign music - "Brave" by Sara Bareilles - cast Hillary as a lifelong fighter who has spent decades trying to improve the lives of others while implicitly rebuking her rival, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

She touted Clinton's experience fighting for children with disabilities as a young lawyer, pushing for health care when she was first lady herself and child care as a New York senator, Politico said.

Without restating the message the Clinton campaign has been pushing against Trump, the first lady also suggested the real estate mogul lacked the temperament to be commander in chief, ridiculing his Twitter tendencies and "thin skin" without ever mentioning his name.

Michelle described the next president she wants to see in the White House as a uniter who would not pit divisions of people against each other because "we are always stronger together", Politico added.

Michelle takes an indirect dig at Trump

Before she concluded her speech, Michelle delivered a message unmistakably delivered at the billionaire businessman.

"Don't let anyone ever tell you that this country is not great, that somehow we need to make it great again. Because this right now is the greatest country on Earth," Politico quoted the First Lady as saying.

The DNC which opened on Monday night will last until Thursday evening.

Delegates from 50 states on Tuesday will officially select Clinton as the first female presidential nominee of one of the country's two biggest parties.

Clinton will formally accept the nomination on Thursday evening with a speech closing out the convention after being introduced to the assembled delegates by her daughter Chelsea.